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| Mango TV in Hot Water Over Zhao Lusi Controversy: Brands Pull Out, Public Fury Grows (Mango TV) |
Things are looking a bit dicey for Zhao Lusi at the moment.
After the backlash surrounding her reality show Little Courage, not only is public anger bubbling over, but Mango TV – the network behind the show – has found itself dragged into serious trouble with the authorities.
And if that wasn’t enough, whispers of a “soft ban” hanging over Zhao are starting to sound louder by the day.
It all kicked off properly on 20 April, when Chinese media outlet 163 reported that top brass from Mango TV, which sits under the Hunan Broadcasting System umbrella, had been summoned for a sit-down with China's cultural regulators.
Not exactly a tea and biscuits chat – more like a stern disciplinary session.
Officials weren’t just wagging fingers either; insiders say they’ve ordered a full suspension or delay of certain reality shows that have been stirring up public outrage.
No surprise then that Little Courage, which was meant to be Zhao Lusi’s big heartwarming comeback after her health struggles, has already been yanked off air.
Government Clampdown and “Cold Treatment”
Behind the scenes, things sound even messier.
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Reports suggest Mango TV got a proper dressing-down over how they handled Little Courage and a few other controversial projects.
The regulators aren’t messing around – word is they’re pushing for a real clean-up of entertainment content.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lusi’s name has popped up on what's being called a "risk list" among celebrities – basically a watchlist for those in the danger zone of public and political disapproval.
Adding fuel to the fire, on 19 April, luxury fashion house Versace suddenly pulled the plug on a planned event featuring Zhao Lusi, setting off alarm bells that she might be quietly blacklisted – the classic “soft ban” move that Chinese showbiz knows all too well.
Mixed Signals from Brands
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom for Rosy just yet.
In a bit of a plot twist, beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury announced her as a global ambassador just this morning.
Fans are clinging onto that as proof that she's not officially persona non grata.
After all, if she were really in the government’s bad books, surely a major international brand wouldn’t be signing her up right now?
Still, in the unpredictable world of Chinese entertainment, nothing's ever that simple.
Why People Turned on Zhao Lusi
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The root of the storm is, unsurprisingly, Little Courage itself.
Touted as an inspiring journey of Zhao Lusi reclaiming her strength after illness, it quickly soured with audiences after it premiered on 27 March.
Instead of feeling moved, viewers accused the actress of being tone-deaf and over-the-top.
Her tearful monologues about growing up in a wealthy family and talking about her "struggles" while interacting with poorer rural communities came off as cringeworthy at best – downright offensive at worst.
Words like “pretentious”, “shallow”, and “performative” started flying around social media. Not exactly the heartwarming vibe she (and Mango TV) were banking on.
Mango TV’s Quiet Panic Mode
In typical low-key crisis management style, Mango TV scrambled to edit out some of the show’s more controversial scenes, hoping to calm things down without admitting any fault.
But by then, the damage was done.
Editing a few awkward moments wasn’t going to undo the tidal wave of public fury – and it certainly didn’t stop the cultural watchdogs from stepping in.
What’s Next for Zhao Lusi?
As of now, Zhao Lusi hasn’t made any public statements about the controversy.
Her silence is only adding fuel to the fire, with many fans and critics alike saying she needs to come out and address the situation head-on if she wants to stop the bleeding.
With rumours of an unofficial blacklisting swirling and Mango TV firmly in the authorities' crosshairs, it looks like Zhao Lusi’s road to recovery – career-wise, at least – might be a lot rougher than anyone expected.